Have you ever been gripped by an irresistible bad habit – like children who suck their thumbs or those who can’t stop biting their nails?
Many of us have some quirky habit we can’t seem to shake. Something we do when we’re absentmindedly watching TV or when we’re...

Did your parents ever tell you to “learn something new every day”? It’s a common little catch phrase with a singsong ring to it that lends itself to being made into a jingle.
As with many phrases that have become cliché, it got that way because of the truth within...

Perhaps it goes without saying, but having a strong sense of purpose in life is good for you.
Purpose in life is defined as a psychological tendency to derive meaning from life’s experiences and possess a sense of intentionality and goal directedness.
Many studies have already shown...

It’s not easy to get an appointment to see a psychiatrist. With current shortages patients are often faced with a wait time of many months which can feel like a very long time when struggling with a mental health issue.
Here are a few simple tips that will help you get the most from your...

Over the past few years public awareness has increased dramatically about the prevalence of postpartum depression. We now understand the postpartum period is a time of great transition and chemical upheaval that puts new mothers at highly increased risk for the development of psychiatric...

Roughly one percent of the population experiences Tourette Syndrome (TS), a distressing condition that begins in childhood and is characterized by motor and vocal tics.
Although first described in 1885, this neuropsychiatric condition is still not fully understood. We do know it typically begins...

Maybe it sounds trite, but the way you spend the majority of your time is the best indicator both of what you are passionate about and what direction your life is heading.
A lot of lip service is paid to the notion of ‘following your dreams’ or ‘pursuing a passion’. We...

Myths and stereotypes have always been part of the perception surrounding psychiatry – in part because mental illness was a taboo subject and something most people knew very little about.
Today it is coming more and more out of the shadows and many of the old assumptions have disappeared....

Is there an app for that? This little line has aptly defined the recent age of smart phones, tablets and related technological toys. We truly do carry our ‘life in our pockets’ these days and chances are, if you’ve thought of it there is an app for it.
Psychiatry and mental...

I have often heard myself and other doctors referred to as pill pushers. In my experience this is usually from someone who disagrees with treatment recommendations that involve medication – and the term is always used pejoratively.
Many patients will not accept the use of psychiatric...

Last week I talked about the difficulties that exist across Canada in accessing psychiatric services. The realities of finding a suitable psychiatric referral in a timely manner are often frustratingly difficult.
The issue has been addressed by the Mental Health Commission – which has...

If you have tried to get a referral to see a psychiatrist in recent years, you may not be surprised to learn that it can be difficult.
In our region the wait time for an appointment is typically greater than six months.
Across Canada, access to psychiatric services is proving to be an issue...

Sex. It’s such a driving focus in our society and even our species that it can be hard to imagine anyone could be entirely satisfied without it.
Although uncommon, asexuality is experienced by roughly one percent of the population according to a Canadian study published in 2004.
An...

Research has made a clear causal link between early childhood neglect and lifelong mental health issues.
We have long seen correlations between childhood emotional damage and lifelong issues such as lower IQ, attachment disorders and mental illness. Intervention to date has primarily...

There has been much research in recent years about the devastating and lifelong impact of brain injuries. New research continues to bring to light the dangers of concussions and we hear about personality changes and symptoms similar to mental illness that can result when a person’s brain is...

Do you find it annoying to hear the sounds of someone else chewing or slurping? This is a pet peeve for many people – but for some, small sounds like these pose a big problem.
Individuals experiencing a condition called misophonia or selective sound sensitivity syndrome can become anxious...

A study published a couple of years ago makes an important point about the importance of thorough scientific research to prove any kind of therapeutic product or treatment.
I have written in the past about the psychological and physical benefits of pet ownership. Almost anyone who has...

Many times I have talked about the prevalence of depression. Of all the psychiatric conditions, depression and anxiety are by far the most common and major depression is thought to affect roughly eight percent of the population at some point in life.
Compare that with the less than one percent...

Yet again, genetic research is teaching us so much more about the way things work in the human body and taking us down unexpected paths.
For the past couple of decades we have suspected genetic involvement in the cause of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Over the past couple of years,...

It’s a disorder almost everyone associates with hyper kids who can’t sit still in a classroom, but for 90 percent of kids with ADHD, symptoms continue to cause problems throughout adulthood.
Although the name, attention deficit disorder, implies the condition is primarily a problem...

Paul Latimer has over 25 years experience in clinical practice, research and administration. After obtaining his medical degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, he did psychiatric training at Queen's, Oxford and Temple Universities. After his residency he did a doctorate in medical science at McMaster University where he was also a Medical Research Council of Canada Scholar. Since 1983 he has been practicing psychiatry in Kelowna, BC where he has held many administrative positions and has done numerous clinical trials. He has published many scientific papers and one book on the psychophysiology of the functional bowel disorders. He is an avid photographer, skier and outdoorsman.

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